Suicide...

Suicide. Just one word, but it says so much... Just hearing the word, just writing it, feels painful and conjures up so many emotions; so many  questions...

Yesterday, September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day. People around the world showed their support by lighting a candle at 8pm. Today is a new day, but you can still show your support by lighting a candle at any time and spending a moment thinking of all those whose lives have been afftected by suicide...

You can make a difference in other ways too, and it can take as little as 5 minutes. By familiarising yourself with the warning signs that someone may be suicidal, you really can make a difference - and by talking about it it can help remove the taboo around suicide and mental health problems...

It's suprising how many people have been affected by suicide - whether they themselves have had suicidal thoughts, or they may have friends or family who have been suicidal or who have tragically taken their lives... 

Each year as many as 1,000,000 people are estimated to die by suicide across the globe; many, many more make nonfatal attempts. (The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).


Warning signs of suicide include the following:

Threatening to hurt or kill oneself

Looking for ways to kill oneself; seeking access to pills, weapons or other means

Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide

Expressing hopelessness

Feeling worthless, feeling there's no reason for living, no sense of purpose in life

Feeling rage or anger, seeking revenge

Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking

Feeling trapped, like there is no way out

Increasing alcohol or drug use

Withdrawing from family, friends, or society

Experiencing anxiety or agitation, being unable to sleep or sleeping all the time

Undergoing dramatic changes in mood
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More info can be found here: http://survive.org.uk/suicide.html

Losing someone to suicide must surely be one of the hardest types of bereavement to deal with. It's vital to have support through the process of grieving and trying to come to terms with this tragedy... “More Than One Soul Dies In A Suicide”... Loss by suicide undoubedtly changes lifes for ever, but it is possible to find a way to move on and to find new meaning from life ...

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.”  Ben Okri

If you're feeling down, or are concerned about a friend or family member, please don't keep it to yourself. Talking really does help.

Never, never, never give up ~ Winston Churchill

-this is so true - never give up ... keep on trying ... remember that every day is a fresh start ...

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Do you need to talk? Appointments are available now - no waiting list